AARON LENNON came up with a timely first goal since 2013 just as it appeared the writing was on the wall for Roberto Martinez.

The Everton manager woke at the team hotel to news that the Bullens Road stand back home at Goodison had been daubed with less-than-complimentary messages in three-foot-high letters.

“Martinez Out!” read one. “Not good enough” said another.

Fortunately for the Toffees, the former Tottenham striker’s 77th minute WAS good enough to secure all three points and inflict QPR’s ninth defeat in 10 games.

Seamus Coleman’s cross was part-shielded by Aroune Kone so Nedum Onuoha’s clearance went only as far as Lennon who brushed off the rust to steer the ball in for a late winner to sink QPR hearts.

Arguably, the home side deserved more as a team unrecognisable from the one that capitulated to Crystal Palace last week generally out-fought a side returning from midweek disappointment in Kiev.

However, the opening goal came somewhat against the run of play to give the visitors a priceless early lead.

“60 grand, 60 grand, Seamus Coleman” sang the away fans in reference to his transfer fee from Sligo Rovers and a strike worth a million dollars will earn Everton substantially more than that if it helps secure their Premier League status.

It was typical of QPR’s lack of luck and cutting edge at the moment that the chance came from an attack by the home side.

Joey Barton, back in the side after suspension, swung in a dangerous free-kick and if Nedum Onuoha had made any sort of contact the Hoops fans would have been the ones rehearsing their repertoire of songs.

As it was, Tim Howard clutched the ball in relief and moments later Aaron Lennon was giving Aroune Kone a run to the goal-line with a pass that left Barton struggling in his wake.

When the cross came in it was Lennon again who was involved, toe-poking the ball into the path of Leon Osman. He in turn waited for Coleman to arrive outside him, nudged the ball sideways and the right-back’s shot thundered into the net off the far post.

PA

Seamus Coleman sidefoots home the opening goal for Everton

Chris Ramsey had sent QPR out in a bold 4-4-2 formation and one imagines in happier times the QPR fans would be celebrating Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora as some sort of “A to Z” strike partnership – so called for their ability to locate each other so easily.

As it was, when the pair did manage to operate in tandem, Zamora was generally offside or, as was the case in the 31st minute, failed to get enough contact on Austin’s cross to send the ball towards the target when only yards from goal.

QPR did think they were back in the game straight after the restart, however. A 25-yard cracker from Junior Hoilett hit the underside of the bar and though Matt Phillips sent the rebound goalwards he was marginally offside so it did not matter that Phil Jagielka made such a mess of his goalline clearance that Zamora was able to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.

The home side remained on the front foot and pulled themselves back level in the 65th minute from a corner. Austin was twice involved as QPR played a desperate keep-ball in the Everton box while trying to conjure an opening to shoot and in the end substitute Eduardo Vargas took the initiative to ram the ball past a host of players into the net.

Zamora burst through the middle only to fire over the bar but Lennon’s sucker punch appeared to wind them until injury time when substitute Adel Taarabt came agonisingly close with a 20-yard shot which hit the far post.

In the end Everton can claim a job well done, as can the workman dispatched with a tin of blue paint to Goodison to clear up the graffiti yesterday afternoon.

The message remains clear in his second season that the Everton fans are increasingly becoming disenchanted with their boss.

If he wants to win them round again now that the pressures of European football have gone, perhaps the coming weeks are Martinez’s chance to put a gloss of his own on a disappointing season.